Introduction

For the past fifteen years or so, Rhode Island has collected data about the performance of its schools from several different perspectives. Currently this data is available online at different websites:

• The original Information That Works website gathers and publishes an amazing amount of data about the state's school districts. Here is a summary of what is reported for each district.
• Beginning in 2009, new surveys were distributed to students, parents, and teachers, and a new website was created to make this information more accessible to the general public.
• The school, district, and state Reports Cards summarize the degree that each school and district has achieved its Adequate Yearly Progress goals as prescribed by the No Child Left Behind Act.

This page describes some of the measures that are available on each of these sites. Before writing about your school or district, you should review the meaning of the measures that you choose to use to support your statements.

InfoWorks Live (2009-Present)

Information Works (1998-2008)

Learning and Achievement

• Assessments
  • Graphs of NECAP scores for Grades 3,4,5,6,7,8, & 11 showing proficiency levels.
  • SAT scores
• Accountability
  • English and Math NECAP scores for target groups in district's elementary, middle, and high schools.
  • Attendance and graduation rates.
• Disaggregation
  • Proficiency levels of students in elementary, middle, and high school disaggregated by target group.
• Graduation Rates
  • Graduation, drop out, and retention rates for all state schools classified by urban, urban ring, and suburban.

Using Information

• District Demographics and Indicators
  • Type of students in district, including type of school they are attending, percentage recieving subsidized lunch, ESL, and special ed.
  • Student indicators, including graduation and suspension rates.
  • Teacher indicators, including certification status.
• School Performance
  • Number of schools in district in each performance classification.
  • Number of schools identified for improvement.
  • Comparison of elementary, middle, and high schools to similar students statewide.
  • District's classification for Adequate Yearly Progress.

Safe & Supportive Schools

• Suspension Rates by infraction type for elementary, middle, and high school.

Teacher support

• Professional development - money per teacher spent on PD in each district.
• Teacher training indicators such as teachers reported needing training, number of new teachers, and teacher mobility.

Curriculum & Instruction

• Special education - Number of district students by type of placement as well as the money spent per student receiving services.
• English language learners - number of students achieving English proficiency by year of receiving services.

Equity and Adequacy of Resources

• School funding sources - Not present in 2008 form, but in 2009, provides percentage of funds received from local, state, and federal sources as well as each district's total funding.
• Program Expenditures - Not present in 2009 form, but in 2008, provides total expenditure w/ program breakdowns.
• General education funding - Annual spending of each district on teachers, technology, and other instructional materials.
• Other expenditures - Per pupil spending including instruction and non-instructional expenses.
• Out of District Expenditures - Spending on non-instructional costs such as retiree benefits, out-of-district tuitions, etc.